Week 1 is now in the books. There are numerous fantasy football storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the overlooked IDP players who showed out in Week 1. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 1, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
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Fantasy Football IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 2 (2026)
Linebacker
Josiah Trotter (LB – TB): 2% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Bucs rookie Josiah Trotter made an impact in Week 1, racking up four solos, seven assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. It was an electric debut for the son of Jeremiah Trotter, who immediately carved out a name all of his own for the Buccaneers. Trotter’s excellent production highlights his immense upside, puts him in the LB2 conversation immediately, and solidifies him as an LB1 in dynasty. Trotter will be one of the hottest names on the wire this week, so be prepared to be aggressive if you want to land his services.
Derrick Barnes (LB – DET): 1% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Derrick Barnes dominated the snaps alongside Jack Campbell in Week 1 and responded with three solos, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, and two passes defended. Barnes played 86 percent of the snaps while Devin White played just 20 percent (Malcolm Rodriguez played 22 percent), and the pick on top of the tackle production is going to go a long way to keeping his role intact as White struggles in coverage. Barnes is a solid LB3/flex add that should be rostered in all competitive leagues.
Payton Wilson (LB – PIT): 7% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Payton Wilson started for the Steelers in Week 1 and responded with five solos, eight assists, and two tackles for loss. Wilson proved he could be a capable starter last season, and his near every snap role proves he will be a fantasy force this season. He is an immediate LB3 who will be an LB2 option during the byes. He has LB2 upside overall, so make the add in all competitive leagues. Wilson is not someone who should be floating on the wire.
Drake Thomas (LB – SEA): 3% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Drake Thomas was excellent in Week 1, reeling off three solos, five assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Drake had 3.5 sacks last season and should surpass that number this season if he stays healthy. Thomas is an LB3 option who will double as a LB2 play during the byes. Drake is an LB2 waiting to happen; he just needs to show more consistency over a long stretch. Tap him as part of the top-25 conversation for a plus Week 2 matchup against Arizona. Make the add everywhere.
Jacob Rodriguez (LB – MIA): 6% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was excellent in Week 1, tallying five solos and nine assists in his NFL debut. Rodriguez actually outsnapped Jordyn Brooks (though only by one snap) against Las Vegas, suggesting that he is more than locked in to an everydown role going forward. Rodriguez should already be rostered in all competitive leagues, but with this being Week 1, we are including names over our five percent cutoff to ensure no one misses out on roster changers like the ascending rookie in Miami. Treat him as a top-20 option for a plus Week 2 matchup against San Francisco. Add Rodriguez everywhere.
Defensive Back
Quentin Lake (S – LAR): 5% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Quentin Lake went off in Week 1, exploding with seven solos, three assists, one interception, and three passes defended. Lake being available in 95 percent of Yahoo! leagues is quite the surprise, as Lake was the DB5 in fppg just last season. Lake did miss the final seven games of the season, so perhaps he has gone overlooked in some competitive leagues. Whatever the case, Lake needs to be prioritized wherever available. Treat Quentin as a DB1 option for Week 2’s plus matchup against the New York Giants. Needless to say, Lake should be started in every and all formats.
Treydan Stukes (S/CB – LV): 2% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Treydan Stukes was excellent in Week 1, piling up four solos, two assists, one interception, and one pass defended. Stukes played every snap for the Raiders, relegating Isaiah Pola-Mao strictly to special teams duties. He did his job and then some in his NFL debut and looks like a potential IDP star in the making. Tap Stukes as a DB3 with DB2 upside for a plus Week 2 matchup against a Los Angeles Chargers team that had its struggles last week. Add Stukes wherever possible.
Dillon Thieneman (S – CHI): 5% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Dillon Thieneman showed out in Week 1, flashing with eight solos, two assists, and one pass defended against the Carolina Panthers. Thieneman played every snap in Week 1 and will continue to get all the work he can handle for the Chicago Bears, even when Coby Bryant and Xavier Woods are healthy. He flashed his DB1 upside in Week 1, but should settle in as more of a DB3 who could push for the DB2 conversation during the byes. Treat him as such for a plus Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Make the add wherever possible.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S – BUF): 2% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
CJGJ played every snap in Week 1, responding with six solos and two assists for the Buffalo Bills. The mercurial safety has always been an IDP asset when he has been healthy and on an active NFL roster, and he looks poised to push his way back into the DB1 conversation. For now, tap him as a DB2 play for a plus Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Add Gardner-Johnson wherever available.
Michael Taaffe (S – MIA): 0% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Rookie safety Michael Taffee had himself a day in Week 1, racking up one solo, three assists, one interception, and one pass defended on 75 percent of the snaps. Taaffe surprised some by playing more snaps than supposed starter Dante Trader, who played just 47 percent of the snaps. Taaffe being locked into a starter’s role puts him directly in the DB3 mix for the byes and the flex conversation otherwise. Start him as a DB4/flex option for what should be a busy afternoon at the office against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. Add the Dolphins rookie where needed.
Defensive Line
Greg Rousseau (DE/LB – BUF): 2% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Greg Rousseau was unleashed in Week 1 and responded with four solos, two sacks, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one pass defended. Rousseau played a career high 80 percent of the snaps. The heavy usage is likely to continue under Jim Leonhard, as he wants his studs in Rousseau and Bradley Chubb to dominate the edge snaps. The Bills pass rusher should be rostered in all competitive leagues as a DL2 with DL1 talent and upside and should be treated as such for a plus Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Lock him onto your roster wherever possible.
Alex Highsmith (DE/LB – PIT): 5% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Alex Highsmith started the season with a bang, notching two solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Highsmith has been wreaking havoc opposite T.J. Watt for years, most notably during his 14.5 sack 2022 season. Highsmith should be rostered in all competitive leagues ahead of a plus Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots. There is no reason he should be available in 95 percent of Yahoo leagues. Add the underrated Steelers star wherever possible.
David Bailey (DE/LB – NYJ): 4% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
David Bailey was excellent in Week 1, racking up four solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss in his NFL debut against the Tennessee Titans. Bailey paced the edge rushing room in snaps, sitting on the field for 70 percent of the team’s defensive plays, a number that should rise as the coaching staff gets more comfortable with his mastery of the playbook. He was as good as advertised with the sack and six pressures, a number that tied him for the ninth most in the league heading into Monday Night Football. Tap Bailey as an upside DL3 option for a plus Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The Jets rookie should be rostered in all competitive leagues.
Za’Darius Smith (DE/LB – ATL): 0% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
Signed as emergency depth following injury and suspension to their two standout rookies from 2025, old man Za’Darius racked up three solos, two sacks, and three tackles for loss in Week 1. He should have an expanded role going forward, as the 24 percent of the snaps he played in Week 1 would normally keep him out of the fantasy conversation in all but the deepest of leagues. Roster him as depth for now, with an eye on him becoming bye week filler worthy by Week 4. Make the add where needed.
Odafe Oweh (DE – WAS): 0% rostered in Yahoo! leagues
I was planning on using the final DL slot to discuss Jaelan Phillips, but Oweh had a better fantasy day in Week 1 and is rostered in zero percent of Yahoo! leagues while Phillips is rostered in three percent. Oweh had himself a day in Week 1, making a statement with two solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Often lost in the edge rusher shuffle, Oweh has a 10 sack season on his resume (2024) and is fresh off a 7.5 sack campaign in 2025. Oweh has proven himself to be a DL2 play, but his rostership numbers suggest he is a DL5 type. Expect that to change somewhat during waivers, but there are other names managers may still prioritize over him. Tap him as a DL2 for a plus Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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